Newfound Gap Road Reviews

Beautiful views of the distant mountains, and nice restrooms, plenty of parking. Great place for panorama photos. Clingman's Dome is better overall view but this is really good,

We started from Gatlingburg and drove up to Newfound Gap Outlook. It was so beautiful. We saw the nice blue smoky mountains in the distance, and took a lots of photos...

This is a very phography worthy spot to stop on your way through the park. Very busy with lots of parking. Truly in God's Country!

Beautiful scenic drive with an area where you can pull over into a parking area and have a fantastic view of the mountains and valleys. A little curvy in spots but not too bad.

A scenic mountain road that takes you through towering forests, along streams, past hiking trails and to towering overlooks. A beautiful mountain drive.

A beautiful drive winding your way up to the top and back down again. Lots of opportunities to pull over and soak in the views of the lovely fall colours all the way to the horizon.

You don't want to drive too fast that you miss the views... they're fantastic! Such beautiful mountain views and we really enjoyed the babbling brooks along the way.

Beautiful road well maintained. Drive Cautiously! Make sure your tank is at least half full! Highly recommend! Numerous pull offs for photos!

Beautiful drive. We drove from pigeon forge to Cherokee North Carolina. It snowed on the mountain while we were there. It was breathtaking views. The temperature is about 30 degrees difference from bottom of mountain. So dress for that. But you won’t be disappointed. Several lookout places. We saw elk and turkeys. Several waterfalls. Don’t miss this drive.

With some unexpected free time during a recent vacation, I decided to drive this road and stopped at the overlook. This was hands-down the most beautiful fall color I saw on the trip. Along with the early morning fog flowing in and out, it made for some fantastic views.

We drove on this road to get to the Blue Sky Ridge Highway. Great turnoffs to stop and get great photos.

A must if you are in the Smokey's.

A reminder - you do not have cell service when you are in the mountains! It was a great reason to unplug.

Traveled this road twice - first day it was socked in and rainy but still beautiful in its way - returned in 2 days to perfect weather and the views got better and better all the way up. Nice lighting. two very different experiences and both enjoyable,

My wife and I drove this 33 mile stretch of highway (US 441) between Cherokee N.C. and Gatlinburg Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park last week. It is one of the most scenic drives anywhere in America. It has streams, creeks, waterfalls, a picnic area (Chimney Tops), multiple photo ops along the route including multiple pull-offs with overlooks including Newfound Gap and Clingman's Dome. Diverse wildlife, trees, plants, etc. are found here. We love everything about the GSMNP including the fact that it is the only National Park in the U.S. that is FREE-no entry fee! FYI...During the winter months I recommend that you call ahead to the GSMNP hotline. A message is recorded daily giving the current road conditions. Due to the high elevation the park service will close this road when snow, ice, or high winds become a driving hazard.

We drove down Newfound Gap Road and enjoyed the lush green scenery all around us. There are various areas you can pull over to take photos. Please note that this is a one-lane road in each direction, so be patient, sit back and enjoy the ride ... which may include elk, wild turkeys, and other wildlife!

My wife and I drove this 33 mile stretch of highway (US 441) between Gatlinburg Tennessee and Cherokee NC in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park last week. We always go in October when the leaves are changing colors. Along the way you will encounter diverse wildlife, trees, & plants as well as streams, creeks & waterfalls making this one of the most scenic drives anywhere in America. There are multiple pull-offs along the way including Newfound Gap that offer magnificent views of the mountains and the surrounding countryside. For even more spectacular views, take the 14 mile round trip drive to Clingmans Dome (elevation 6643 feet making it the highest mountain in the GSMNP). I promise you will not be disappointed and don’t be surprised when traffic just stops due to a bear sighting so have your camera ready. There are also multiple hiking opportunities at Chimney Tops or the Alum Cave trail. Additionally the Appalachian trail crosses at Newfound Gap. I saved the best for last. The GSMNP is the only National Park in the U.S. that is FREE-no entry fee! Open year round. However keep in mind that due to the high elevation (5046 feet at Newfound Gap) & the fact that this road is only cleared by snowplows and a gravel sandmix (no chemicals can be used for snow removal due to their harm to the environment), the park service will close the road when snow, ice, or high winds create a driving hazard. The alternate route will take you about an hour longer to get to Gatlinburg.

Newfound Gap Road is absolutely stunning to experience with it's far reaching, beautiful views. There is a new wonder to behold around every curve.

Lovely, winding road to the North Carolina side of the park. There are lots of opportunities for lookouts. Also, we saw 4 elk along the way. Beautiful afternoon drive.

We drove up early on a Saturday morning to see Clingman's Dome but that was closed due to snow and ice. We found a great alternative hiking the Alum Cave Trail, lucky to find a parking spot. By the time we were done with our hike, the road was PACKED! We hoped to go to Chimney Tops but there was no way - we couldn't even get into the parking lot. At least the road North to Gatlinberg was fairly clear sailing but the Southbound lane was bumper to bumper, nearly a standstill. We'd had a wonderful drive early that am, so make sure you plan accordingly.

My wife and I take this drive on every visit to the Smoky Mountains and enjoy the drive and the views and opportunities for picture taking. In addition, you can stop by Clingmans Dome midway to Occonoluftee.

Great view from the various lookout spots. The Rockefeller monument is very cool and a great place for a picture or the kids to climb on. It is an intersection of the Appalachian Trail - so you can kinda experience the AT from this one point. Very cool place at the state line at the Gap for pictures.

Despite so many people on the road, this was still a lovely drive with plenty of overlook stops. Was able to stop at a hiking trail that was not crowded like Newfound Gap or Clingman's Dome and had a nice hike.

The drive on Newfound Gap Road is an amazing adventure with breathtaking views around every bend. There are plenty of wonderful places to pull off for hiking, picnics, photo opportunities or just to simply soak in all of God's natural splendor.

It's on way of Clingmans Dome, lots of traffic on weekend, plan early. lots of good spots to stop by and have a look of smoky mountains.

Absolutely amazing picture opportunities! Indescribable feelings looking at this beautiful piece of our country! Definitely an area to keep a close eye on children. Our 2 1/2 year old had his little monkey backpack leash on the whole time!

Well worth the drive. The views along the way as well as at the top are fantastic. Never a bad view anywhere in the park.

This newly opened Road beautifully connects the best parts of the mountains. With abundant lookouts, this route enables visitors to take absolutely breathtaking pictures. Photographers’ paradise and lovers’ hide out, this road is a must drive for anybody visiting this park.

Newfound Gap Road is a must. So many places to stop and enjoy nature. Snow makes it more beautiful. Never know what kinds of critters you may see or how the Smokies will look from day to day.

We saw lots of Fire damage along this road . Chimney Tops Trail is closed . There are lots of pull offs along the way . It's still very pretty scenery with the spring growth of the trees . This is a very curvy , narrow road. When you do get to the top you have a spectacular view of the mountains. Don't forget a jacket , it's chilly up there. They have bathrooms but no sinks just hand sanitizers. They do have a large parking lot but like any of the popular destinations you want to get there early because they will get crowded.

The road is worth to visit. It is very easy to drive and there are many points to stop and take pictures.

Make sure to pull off and enjoy the views. Plenty of trails off the road if you are looking to take a good hike. The earlier you go, the better off you will be. The pull-offs and trails get packed as the day goes on. Leave early enough, and you will be rewarded with some beautiful views of the sunrise.

What a delight to travel along this road, almost every turn gave us another thrill of the river, wildflowers, the woods, dogwood, mountains. We stopped many times and never stopped smiling. Just so beautiful. We saw wild turkey and also elk, when we came closer to Cherokee.

The drive and the viws at every step of the way are just awesome, specially at this time of the year.

While the road leads to a overlook that is interesting, dividing state lines and dedicated to a Rockefeller, the best part of the trip are the many overlooks and educational exhibit signs along the road. Fortunately those overlooks also provide plentiful opportunities to let those on the clock to rush by in their effort to cross something off on a list. Doesn't have the structures of the Cades Cove drive, but relaxing in its own way if approached appropriately.

This is the most popular road through Smoky Mountain National Park. It runs between Cherokee, NC at the east end and Gatlinburg, TN at the west end. The road is about 35 miles long and climbs approximately 3000 feet through a variety of habitats. There are pull-outs and spectacular views all along the way. I understand that this is a very busy park at times, but in mid-May during the week, the traffic was rather light making the drive quite enjoyable and unhindered by traffic. I imagine it starts to get very crowded in mid-June when the Rhododendron begins to bloom. There is no fee to enter this park. Admission is free. We stopped at the Oconoluftee Visitor Center which is 2 miles or so from the entry point in Cherokee. There is a farm museum adjacent to this center where visitors can explore old farm buildings. There are other visitor's centers to explore and each has it's own interesting exhibits. There are plenty of hiking trails to explore inside the park as well as camping opportunities but for disabled visitors to the park, the drive alone is quite enjoyable and worth the trip.

Main drive through the park with many great overlooks. Lots of travelers on the road, as expected. Unfortunately, we found out the true meaning of great Smoky Mountains and were unable to view anything at all due to the heavy fog as it started raining and the views became completely 100% obstructed. We moved on and the fog quickly lifted and we were treated with a huge elk crossing the road right in front of us. Amazing!

I've always thought of Clingman's Dome as the best views in the Smokies but ever since our last trip, Newfound Gap is my new favorite. It is so amazingly beautiful to see the mountains rising up from the gap; it just makes the heart soar! It's also much easier to get around here so I highly recommend it if you have kids with you.

There is plenty of parking at this trail access. The trail here consists of the Newfound Gap trailhead and the AT trailhead. The Newfound Gap trailhead leads to Clingmans Dome. The AT trailhead is 1000+ miles which lead to Maine.

Such an enjoyable, calm drive. The other drivers are pretty relaxed too. It's one of the highlights of our trip to TN. We couldn't help but stop at all the pull offs to see the views. Even on a cloudy day the views were worth the trip. We actually pulled over about 30 times to let the cars behind us pass; spent about 3 hours on this drive but it's only about 20 min if you drove straight through. By the end of the day I declared Smoky Mountains my favorite national park. I lived in Boulder for several years but there's something about these mountains that I just love. It was good to get out of Gatlinburg where we were staying for the week.

We came up here on search for some real snow and we found so much more! The landscape and nature was so beautiful! We drove along the road and made stops along the way. We early spent 4 or 5 hours driving the road with the many stops we made and trails we walked. My children loved it as did my husband and I. Best part of out trip to Gatlinburg and it didn't cost a penny!

Such a nice and peaceful drive. It’s surrounded by trees, with a few tunnels here and there. The overlooks offer great views!

The most beautiful road we’ve driven in the incredible state of Tennessee, and there are many. Anyone not humbled by the sheer natural beauty of this mountain road has something wrong with them! ABSOLUTE must drive when in the area!

We looped around the Smokey Mountains from Asheville on 40 to 32 to 321 had lunch in Gatlinburg before heading back on 441, the BRP and 276. Newfound Gap Road was just part of the overall journey.

Every bit of the ride was beautiful and it's difficult to distinguish what scenery and views were where. I would highly recommend that anyone that has the opportunity to drive through the mountains stopping at the visitors centers, scenic lookouts and other sites do so. It is an awe inspiring journey and worth the time it takes.

Beautiful drive for viewing the mountains and scenery. There were plenty of pull offs and parking lots along the way up and down to stop and get out for pictures and viewing. Plenty of walking/hiking trails to do as well. The view from the top was amazing.

It's one of the scenic drive you may not want to miss if you visit Smoky mountain, the Alum Cave Bluffs trail head is located on this road. There is also a Clingmans Dome Tower, which you can go up to see the whole view of the park.

The road is very high and has steep drops off the side. The views are great, but traffic as you approach Clingman’s Dome can be heavy and tourists will park along the shoulder. I would not recommend parking on the shoulder.

This drive was gorgeous! Great views and enjoyable drive. Always love the cooler weather in the mountains. It was 65 deg at the top point of the road in July - felt great!

This was an absolutely gorgeous drive! Well worth the hour it takes and gives you a beautiful view of a large part of the park. There are some great photo stops as well!

This is a beautiful drive to the top of the Great Smokey Mountains. There is some beautiful scenery to see from here. You can stand with one foot in Tennessee and one foot in North Carolina. There are additional trails you can take from here. It's a short drive from Gatlinburg and you won't regret it.

The views at the different scenic overlooks are breathtaking, the woods during the drive up & down the mountain are beautiful, Alot of curves to take slowly.

This road is the only one over the Smokey Mountains. It is a gorgeous drive with several places to pull over for scenic viewing. Definitely take a Dramamine if you get car sick - it is a twisty, turny, curvy ride!

If you want to see the beauty of God’s work, this is a must see trip! Make sure you have your camera and be ready to ooh & ahh! It is so worth the traffic you might experience on the way to the Newfound Gap!

Beautiful sites all along the way with lots of pullouts to take pictures of the awesome mountains. Definitely worth the drive.

So cool to be in both TN and North Carolina here! Took lots of pics! Gorgeous view and a chance to see a spot on the Appalachian trail!

This was our favorite drive of our vacation to Gatlinburg. Don't turn back after you get to Newfound Gap, after sight seeing there continue your drive to Cherokee, NC It's definitely worth it.
The Tennessee side of the Mountain has the best Mountain views and pull offs, but the NC side of the Mountain has the best creek views and pull offs.

Buy a parking pass before you go so that you can stop and check out all the cool sites and Newfound Gap parking lot.

Beautiful hike from Newfound Gap in the Smoky Mountains to Clingmans Dome and back. This is a streneous hike, but definitely worth the hike.

We drive this road usually at least once a year when visiting the Smokies. We have driven over to Cherokee and back, but we have also used it to just drive the short distance from Sugarlands to the Chimneys Picnic Area. Either way, you get a nice view of the Great Smokiy Mountains National Park from this road. It is a two lane road (one lane each way). It is a completely scenic drive with no traffic lights, light poles, telephone wires, cell phone service, businesses (such as gas stations, restaurants, hotels), etc. You will become one with nature here! You can take in the sights of the trees, mountains and the occasional view of water cascading down a rock. There are several pull-offs and quiet walkways to stop at and enjoy the nature here. Newfound Gap Rd is home to the Sugarlands Visitor Center, Chimneys Picnic Area, Chimney Tops, Alum Cave Trail, Newfound Gap State Line Marker, Rockefeller Memorial, Mingus Mill, a point of access for Clingman's Dome and the gateway to Cherokee & Gatlinburg just to name a few!!

This year we stopped at Sugarlands, the Alum Cave Trail and the Chimneys Picnic Area along Newfound Gap Rd. I would highly recommend this scenic drive. Make sure you gas up before you head into the park though as there is no where to stop!

It's a relaxing and scenic drive along this road, and we enjoyed it a lot. However, pretty much the entire way is a nice quiet road in between two rows of trees - pretty, but very...uniform. Not too much to say.

Newfound Gap Rd is the major lifeline through the Smokies: a crucial connecting hwy from Gatlinburg to Cherokee. And if you’re visiting the park, it’s nearly impossible to not find yourself on a stretch of it at one point or another.
The Smoky Mountain National Park is free to the public: and much of that is due in part to this stretch of road. But it’s more than just a boring hwy that’ll get you from point A to point B. There’s real substance here. Nearly every aspect of the Smokies is represented along this stretch. From plants and wildlife spotting, to waterfalls, creeks, trailheads, picnic areas, and of course, breathtaking views.
As you enter the park from either state, there’s a convenient visitor’s center, with restrooms, located at each entrance. These serve as valuable starting points to gather tons of information concerning everything in the Park, from hiking to camping, and everything else. And there are informative volunteers here to answer most every question you may have. There’s even a free museum; and a short walk to a beautiful waterfall.
Along the way you’ll pass a multitude of pull offs used for everything from accessing trailheads, to picture spots. You’ll pass the entrances to a couple of the parks most coveted and popular trailheads: The Chimney Tops, And Alum Cave Trail. These are congested areas, as parking is prime. So watch for pedestrians, and brake checks. The Chimney Top picnic area is the prettiest in the entire park, with prime spots along the creek to grill or picnic.
As you gain elevation, pay close attention to the change in vegetation. The large hardwoods in the lower Smokies give way to the spruce and fir trees in the higher elections. The flowers and plants are all different as well.
At the state line you’ll wanna whip into the parking lot at Newfound Gap, and check out the views of the eastern and southern Smokies. The rolls of mountains seem to go forever, and offer a great photo opportunity. The Roosevelt Memorial is here, where FDR himself, stood in front of a crowd, and dedicated the park. You can also access the Appalachian Trail here, and most likely you’ll see a few through hikers passing through the parking lot throughout the day. The restrooms here are the last ones until you reach the other visitors center located just a mile before entering Cherokee. The road to Clingman’s Dome, a 7 mile twisty climb to the top of the Smokies, is located just after leaving the Newfound Gap parking lot. The views from the top are stunning. There’s a 45’ observation deck that offers 360 degree views on a clear day. Get here early, to beat the crowds, and the clouds....
From here there are various pull offs, and photo spots along the way to take advantage of. Don’t miss a stop at Mingus Mill off to your right, just before the Oconaluftee Visitors center. This is a full working mill, that still grinds and works everyday. You can even buy a bag of cornmeal to take home. Of course when you reach Cherokee, it’s a whole other world to learn of. There’s a ton of history here to soak in.
One thing that is cool about this drive, is that you’ll have a Creek following the road for a large portion of your 33 mile drive. Water flows down from these mountains, and follows along the road on both sides of the state line. You’ll notice small waterfalls flowing into these creeks, especially after the rain.
If you visit The Smokies, put this drive on your list. Many folks will tell you the traffic is too much, there’s too much braking for this or for that. It’s too congested, and so on. But I say, you came here to see the beauty of these mountains, and this is more than just a road from one state to another. It’s a bounty of beauty and history that gives one a glimpse of the Smokies. It’s just something you’ll end up doing anyways. I do suggest an early start though... lol. Enjoy

Beautiful area. Lots of travelers right now and there will certainly be traffic. Earlier is probably better. We took this to the Oconoluftee visitor center which I would recommend. Maybe 15 minutes before that, we had a herd of elk cross right next to us. Super fun

One of the absolute premier drives in the entire national park system as you steadily continue to gain in elevation on your way to Newfound Gap on the TN/NC line (where President Franklin Roosevelt gave a speech dedicating the GSMNP).

Take the time to enjoy not only the scenic views (looking up to the tops of the mountians when dirving at lower elevations and looking out over grands vista when you near the top). Pull over frequently and get out of the car and snap a few pictures as two of the parks more iconic mountains offer great displays (Mount Leconte and the Chimney Tops).

There are also plenty of places to get out and stick your feet in some cold clean mountian streams (and fly fish if you want). Several of the Smokies more popular hikes are found along the way (Both the Alum Cave Trail (which extends on up to Mount LeConte) and the aforementioned Chimney Tops. Be ware though that these are extremely popular hikes and the parking lots tend to fill up by ten or eleven in the morning on busier days.

Our drive on this road was a great experience. There are many places to pull over and see spectacular views, and the best is at the top where they have built a nice viewing area with restrooms. Make sure to get the views from both sides of the parking lot as they are not identical. There was traffic but nothing enough to slow us down or have a problem. We did stop at the farm museum which is free and not huge. I found it informational and interesting, and the rangers were very knowledgable.

We travelled new found gap road from
Cherokee to pigeon forge. It is a nice scenic route to travel. We stopped at the welcome center and even went up to visit clingmans dome. The drive is peaceful.

With overlooks and trails throughout the road, this was a great way to spend out time at the park. We made several stops at outlooks along the road with great views - definitely a good way to spend your time if you’re limited to see the park.

Just like any other area of the Park, the view is great or nonexistent- all depends on the weather. The drive itself is really good. It's very curvy and in some places seems a little narrow. But definitely well worth the drive. We take it at least once every time we are there.

Nice drive across the Smokey Mountains National Park. Many hikes are available along with some quiet walks along the route.

Nice drive to the newfound gap. Expansive views. Nice place for star gazing on a clear night. We only had one clear night. Oh and the fog can be quite thick in early morning hours

The road is interesting, does a lot of weaving, and other drivers don't always use headlights in the "Mist." Makes it a challenge. There are a few pull offs for photo ops. At the Gap there is a HUGE parking lot with bathrooms, a monument, a NC/TN border sign and views. The Appalachian Trail crosses the road in this area if you wish to do a day hike. I hiked. It was great, except the fog prevented fantastic views. The Oconaluftee Visitor's Center re is great and there is a a neat Mountain Farm Museum if you have time. If you are a hiker, and wish to try hiking Mount Le Conte, you need to arrive at Alum Cave Trail parking early. There is a nice, wide trail there and with reservations, you can stay at Mount Le Conte. From what I understand, it's resies only! I did not drive up to Clingman's Dome due to fog, although it probably shouldn't be missed with any viz as it is the highest peak on the Appalachian Trail.

If you need to get anywhere in the Park, you’ll travel on the New Found Gap road. Get a pamphlet at one of the visitor centers for a description of highlights along the way. Or just wing it and pull over in a turnout when you see something interesting.

We didn't take the entire drive. We drove from the Gatlinburg side to Clingmans Dome and went back, but what we did see was spectacular. There are many overlooks with sweeping mountain views. Even my jaded teens were impressed and wanted selfies of themselves in the mountains. Dogs aren't allowed many places in the Great Smoky Mountains, but they can enjoy the overlooks with you. I'd love to take the entire drive sometime.

Lot's of roads and trails throughout the Smokies but none beat this route for the mountain views and easy photos ops. During the warmer months Clingmans dome awaits you at the top as does the scenic overlook of two states

On Route 441 between Gatlinburg and Cherokee is the high point on the road and the Tennessee and North Carolina state line. Its a wonderful view but sunrises and sunset are awesome.

Just another mountain road. Good pleasant views BUT with massive traffic jams.
If you like small hills with trees while sitting in your car listening to a (downloaded) podcast for a couple hours, the. This place is for you.

Newfound Gap Road is really cool. There are windy roads and plenty of mountain tops along this scenic road. Plenty of stops to take photo opportunities as well as visitor centers to buy souvenirs. Check it out.

This has been one of the most scenic road I have driven in the U.S. It just contains everything that you can expect for a scenic drive: forests, creeks, ascending and descending the mountains. The Newfound Gap at the TN/NC state line is a must stop where the mountain views are like portraits. I definitely would like to drive there again.

I'm grateful for pullovers to allow faster vehicles to pass. We enjoy taking our time enjoying the views, either along Newfound Gap, Clingman's Dome or either entrance. It is a wonderful ride with fresh air and the occasional wildlife. If you're lucky, you'll spy some elk or wild turkey.

There are multiple view points on this stretch of road which are breathtaking. I personally found 'Cut and Run' viewpoint a lot better than Newfound gap. There is one more view point after passing Cut and Run and before Newfound Gap if you drive from Cherokee to Gatlinburg. We did not stop there in the hopes that Newfound gap would be much more better, but it was not. Newfound gap viewpoint is a bit over rated whereas there are better lookout points. But yes, its a good place for a nice view too, also you get to touch NC-TN borderline. Must visit spot at GSMNP!

We went through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on our way north. We took Newfound Gap Road from Cherokee to Gatlinburg. It was a nice beautiful leisurely drive through the park. It mostly a lot of trees, but a great view of the river. If you want to see the beautiful mountain vistas be prepared to stop and get out of the car. Surprisingly, not much traffic and we were there during peak season.

We drove from Cherokee to Pigeon Forge on this road. It’s pretty narrow and has many twists and turns. The speed limit is 35 at most. There are lots of areas where you can stop and take in the scenery. It gets very busy. There’s some construction going on on the Tennessee side. It’s so beautiful up there. A must do if you’re in the area. I wouldn’t recommend towing anything because it’s uphill most of the way and then the downhill parts are pretty steep. There’s 3 tunnels you have to go through.

We just fell in love with the Great Smokey Mountains and this drive was a primary reason. Loved it. Easy to navigate, so many pull offs. Stunning views.

This is a great drive from Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC through Great Smoky Mountains NP. It's free to enter the park and this is the main road through it. Halfway through, it stops at Newfound Gap. Along the way, there is a bunch of scenic lookouts.

If you are visiting the GSMNP, you need to make the drive over the Newfound Gap at least once. There countless pull-offs and parking areas for trails along the winding and twisting road. The views are amazing. I like the corners that loop around themselves through tunnels. It's a fun drive, especially in a little sports car. No need to speed, just enjoy the view and the corners. The guy that was behind me with the huge truck and giant travel trailer may have a different opinion.

Well worth the drive. The pull off areas have the best views in SMNP. You can stop at any of the several Trail Heads and explore. Absolutely stunning.....

Beautiful scenery. Road goes along the river. Some places to pull out and look. Very nice drive through the park.

Great place for photos,breathtaking views and good area for a short walk to stretch your legs.Right on the Tennessee/North Carolina line, Appalachian Trail information,

You can not drive here on your people carrier. You need sleek high powered vehicles. Ours looked out of place. Views good.

Looking for Cades Cove - we took the wrong turn - and what an adventure. - Drove up over 5000 - ended up at the Tennessee - North Carolina state lines. Breathtaking views.

This is a very enjoyable driving road. Beautiful view. And a lot of beautiful spots which you can stop by.
Open the car windows, breathe in the mountain air.

Newfound Gap Road runs through Great Smoky Mountain National Park, connecting the Tennessee side to North Carolina. Along with Little River Road, it is one of the two main roads within the Park and this one is very well maintained. While busy and full of twists and turns, both roads offer lovely scenery and a lot of pull offs to enjoy the views.

Wildlife can often be spotted from the road and can sometimes result in lengthy delays. A bear in the trees left us creeping along a very small section for over 30 minutes. Slowdowns for elk were also common near Oconaluftee Visitor Center, where we would often seen them right alongside the road.

Newfound Gap is a great stop near the state lines and Clingmans Dome can be reached seven miles down Clingmans Dome Road. Other nice stopping areas and pullouts help to slow down and really take in the surroundings instead of just rushing to the next destination, and isn't that why we want to visit?

This place is very close to clingmans dome and and boasts amazing views of smokey mountains.
The most exciting thing is that the point falls right on Appalachian trail and you can plan a very good hike on the trail. The section of the trail going north from this point is one of the finest sections of 2100 mile trail. If you want little more than couple of miles you can walk the trail to clingman dome and ask someone to pick you at the clingman dome.
It has so much history attached through it.

We met a guy who started the trail in June from Maine and six month later he was almost the the end of trail. It's so exciting.

What a great place to take the kids and grandkids. Really able to bond without all the internet interference. Beautiful sites, sounds, and nature to enjoy. Be sure to stop at Sugerland visitors center.

Worth taking the time to drive this slower, often windy road across the Smokey Mountains. In late February it was not too busy, although as an earlier reviewer has noted, slow drivers are not usually good at pulling in to let others pass, so allow plenty of time.
It is worth stopping at Newfound Gap at the top and taking time to look at the information boards which among other things explain why the mountains are named Smokey Mountains. There are also restrooms there.

It had been several years, since we last drove Newfound Gap Road (US Hwy 441), which runs between Cherokee, NC, and Gatlinburg, TN, and bisects the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

On this May morning, we picked up the Newfound Gap Road, at the Sugarlands Visitors Center (in the GSMNP) from Wear Cove Gap and Little River Gorge Road, out of Townsend, TN. We were staying just west of Townsend, so this allowed us to by-pass the traffic in Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg, and also provide us with more time actually in the Park.

The Newfound Gap Road is twisty, and there are some steep elevation gains, and falls. However, the surface is very good, and there are railings in most places with drop-offs. It is a mountain highway, in every respect. I would not want to tow a trailer on this road, nor would I want to negotiate it in snow and ice – but the National Parks Service usually closes it, before conditions get too bad. On this Spring morning, snow and ice were totally out of the equation.

We encountered traffic, immediately after Sugarlands Visitors Center, and it was fairly dense for the entire trip down to Cherokee, NC. In our rental Ford, it was more than easy keeping up, and especially as my wife (the driver) had spent 20 years driving the mountain roads in Colorado. Many of those make the Newfound Gap Road look like Interstate across Kansas.

We probably only used about 10 of the myriad pull-outs, which are scattered on both sides of the road, through the Park. Many lead to trail heads (we did not hike on this trip), and most offer a view of spectacular scenery, whether a waterfall, the rushing creek below, or the beautiful vistas of the GSMNP. While the Newfound Gap Road can be used as a throughway, it is mostly a scenic highway, and one should pause along its route, at almost every opportunity.

On this morning, though traffic was a bit heavy, it seemed that most of the pull-outs were being used by hikers, as while most had a car, or two, we encountered few people, around the parking areas. On some drives, one might need to pass a half-dozen parking areas, before a space can be found.

The drive took us about 3.5 hrs, but could have been completed in much less time, if one did not stop as often, as we did. However, it could easily take a full day, if one hiked many of the trails. As for the trails, some are very short nature walks, to a view, or to a waterfall, but some are much more serious hikes, requiring much, much more time.

At Cherokee, NC, we headed off to pick up Tail of the Dragon, and a return to the Walland, TN Area, and our cottage. A wonderful day, revisiting a highway, which we love, on a beautiful Spring morning.

Great views, If it is open it is a must do scenic drive. Plenty of places to pull over to enjoy the Great Smokey Mountains.

Our kids were tired from a (brief) hike but we wanted to see more that day - so it was perfect to take this beautiful drive to Newfound Gap

Should have driving tips. We took this road home strictly to get back to Florida, it was foggy and night time. Did not realize I was literally driving up then down a mountain. Brakes got really hot, may have warped the rotors. Wish we would have went during the day to actually enjoy all the stops we had to make to let cars pass and let the brakes cool off. Oh well maybe I'll drive it again not in a minivan full of kids lol.

When going to GSNP or Gatlinburg, we always take Newfound Gap Rd. There is so much to see and do. It's a long and winding road with lots of wild life and great views.

We saw several bears along the road going to Clingmans Dome. It was a kinda rainy day, so this was a perfect trip.

This is a beautiful drive, take your time and enjoy the sights. The Smoky Mountains are beautiful so relax and enjoy the views.

This is a wonderful way to spend two or more hours. Beautiful views all the way up and many places to pull off - most with views, some with different nature encounters (creeks, trails, etc.). Restrooms, NC/TN border marker, monument, Appalachian Trail Point and more views at the top. Worth it every single time, any time of the year. Keep driving over the North Carolina border into Cherokee for a change.

The views from this road are great. The road was crowded at the time but it only made us enjoy the views better.

For years this has been a bathroom stop on the way from Gatlinburg to Cherokee. The kids enjoy standing on the state line of NC/TN.

Just driving the road is so relaxing, stopping to just watch the river, short and long hikes to waterfalls and awesome views.

We saw many animals however the Elk were everywhere on the Cherokee end

I would love to tell you how awesome this place is and how amazing the views were but it was so crazy busy we weren't able to get out of the car because there was no place even remotely close to park.

It is a holiday weekend and this isn't really anyone's fault it's a mountain there is only so much parking.

My suggestion go very early on a cloudless day to get the best chance to enjoy this beautiful place. Even if you don't get out the drive alone is totally worth it.

Fun ride up the mountain to a stunning view of the valleys and vistas, went twice on a sunny day and a “Smokey” one and both were beautiful times to go.

This is one of my favourite scenic drives i have ever been on! There's lots to see and loads of great places to pull in and take photos, the road to cling mans dome was closed which was a little disappointing but still a lot to see and a few little posts about the history. You also get to see a little of the Appalachian trail (if you do a hike here) Would definitely recommend.

It is a beautiful drive with lots of pullover on the way Gives excellent views of the mountain and valley This gap has a lot of parking and beautiful view Worth spending time on it You can Appalachian trail from here

This is a drive that must be done to truly appreciate the beauty of the Great Smokey Mountains but be sure to stop at as many attractions/hikes along the way that you can. Getting out of the car often helped us explore the history of the area as well. A Great American drive!

This is a curvy mountain road with several turnouts for scenic vistas. It goes from Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC. At the southern end is the mountain farm museum and Mingus Mill at Oconaluftee. It may be windier and the temperature may be a little cooler near the summit. When we drove it in April, it was foggy and raining. The Appalachian Trail crosses at the summit too and has a large parking area. Lucky visitors may see wildlife such as deer and turkeys. We didn't encounter much traffic while here but it was still early in the season. This is a great drive.

This drive takes you through many beautiful vistas from Tennessee to North Carolina. This 13 mile stretch of road takes over an hour to drive but it is much more relaxing drive through the mountains than I-40. There are three tunnel sections and places to pull off for picture taking. As you near Oconoluftee Visitor Center we have seen elk alongside this road on a few of our trips down this road. It is a great drive in all seasons. Lush green vistas in the summer, flowering shrubs in the spring, fall foliage at its best in the fall and ice covered trees in the winter provide for breath taking drives.

Don't stay in the hotel , keep going the surprize is around the next corner. the roads are in good condition curvy and that all the fun.

It was raining most of the day so we spent most of it driving rather hiking. Newfoundland gap road is a "MUST SEE" the views and scenery were spectacular. I can imagine during the true tourist season, this road would be packed with vehicles and it would take much longer to make this drive.

What a beautiful drive. As we drove up we were greeted with snow in May!!! But the road was well taken care of and drivers being smart. The view was masked with the snow but we could still see the river and that was phenomenal!

Beautiful drive with amazing scenery! A highly recommended drive and visit to this park. Beauty such as this can't be found elsewhere.

My wife and I along with my daughter and her family traveled from Atlanta Ga. to Gatlinburg Tenn. for the Thanksgiving holiday. We entered the Great Smokey Mountains National Park at the Oconoluftee visitor center in Cherokee NC (Elk can be seen here during breeding season Sept. and Oct.) and traveled this 33 mile stretch of scenic highway (US 441) through the park ending at the Sugarlands visitor center just outside of Gatlinburg Tenn. Normal travel time is around 1 hour but could take 2 hours plus during the Fall leaf season. This drive allows you to experience everything the Park has to offer. There are quiet walkways as well as unforgettable views of the various peaks in the Smokies. See Mt. LeConte, Mt. Mingus, Sugarland Mountain, and the Chimney Tops from Newfound Gap and Clingmans Dome. Multiple pullouts such as Campbell, Morgan, Oconoluftee Valley, or Webb Overlooks offer scenic views. You will also see mountain streams (Little Pigeon River, Oconoluftee River), water falls, and a vast variety of trees, flowers, and wildlife. There are historic grist mills (Mingus), picnic areas (Chimney Tops, Collins Creek), campgrounds (Smokemont), and tunnels (height restricted approx. 15 feet), as well as multiple hiking opportunities (Chimney Tops, Alum Cave Bluff, Mt. Leconte, Boulevard, or Andrew’s Bald trails). It took us about three hours to cross over the mountain and into Gatlinburg because of the picture taking opportunities and the fact that my four year old Granddaughter wanted to see everything. We spent 45 minutes at the Sugarlands Visitor Center because she wanted to go through their museum 4 times. Gotta love it. We had a blast. Highly recommend. If you are in a hurry this road is not for you. During the winter months it is advisable to call ahead to the GSMNP to ensure US 441 over the mountain is open. Due to the high elevation the park service will close the road when snow, ice, or high winds become a driving hazard. The road is closed to commercial traffic as well.

Well maintained road from the Sugarland Visitor Center to Cherokee.Curvy. Very green. Lots of overlooks and trails. Occasionally some deer on the road. But please note, in summer the road can be very very busy.

driving up to the mountain, you can see spectacular mountains and clouds. Unfortunately I went there on a rainy day and not able to see all along the road. But it;s worth while driving along.

A scenic drive through the lower areas of the mountains. Plenty of areas to pull over and take in the views. Parts run next to a river and by a few open fields with possible elk spotting.

We come to the Smoky Mountains often. We especially enjoy it in the fall with the trees changing colors. We always see wildlife, and there are waterfalls right on the roadside.

If you're not making the strenuous trek up to Clingman's Dome, these are some of the best views you'll find. The Appalachian Trail head is also here and clearly marked to the right of the stone monument that sits here as well. If you're looking close enough and walk along the edge path, you'll also find - in the ground along the paths edge - the U.S. geological survey marker here as well. Lots of parking and a great place to linger for a bit.

We enjoyed the drive through The Great Smoky Mountains Nat’l Park using Newfound Gap Road, Newfound Gap with the memorial to JD Rockefeller’s mom and the people of Tennessee and North Carolina was interesting and had gorgeous views

It is definitely worth the trip end to end. There a places to pull over, rest and get some good pics! Plenty of restrooms scattered along the road in visitor centers and campgrounds. Speed limit is mostly 35, but there is s reason in that! A few tunnels, lots of breath-taking views!

Take the drive all the way from Cherokee all the way to Gatlinburg Tennessee. A very scenic drive with many place to stop along the way to view historical places and the views of the valleys. If you drive thorough Cherokee at the right times, around 8 am or around 4 pm you can experience the herd of Elk that graze along the road just on the outskirts of Cherokee by the visitor center. Many opportunities for photography along the way. Once you're at the top to New Found Gap you can enjoy the beautiful views. Endless things to do and see along the way.

My wife & I just returned from a trip to the GSMNP. Drove up US 441 from Cherokee to Gatlinburg. During October this 35 mile drive is one one the most scenic in America. It is an annual tradition for us. The tree leaves have changed to their most brilliant colors. There are multiple overlooks along the way providing ample opportunities for you to stop & take a break while enjoying the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains & the spectacular fall foliage. Picture taking opportunities are everywhere. We stopped at Newfound Gap, Clingmans Dome, Alum Cave Trail, Chimney Tops Trail, both the Sugarlands & the Oconaluftee visitor centers, Little River Road, The Sinks, Laurel Falls, & Mingus Mill. We saw wild turkeys, Elk, & also a mama bear & her cubs! Made life time memories. Highly recommend.

We have driven this the road from Gatlinburg to Cherokee several times in Spring and Fall. There are many places with super views. Newfound Gap visitor area is a nice rest stop with trail heads and restrooms.

There are plenty of drives to get to a destination within the Smokies that will give you what Newfound Gap Road does. We did take it into Cherokee, and that is a fun little town to visit, though not a "must visit". It is pretty, but not necessarily any better than some of the other drives.

Was staying in Gatlinburg and came down to Newfound Gap. The drive on Newfound Gap Road was very impressive. The views from many of the areas were just amazing. Plenty of pullouts on the road to better check out the views. Very nice roadways with many places to stop and check out the views of the area.

The winding road has water and tunnels and beautiful views of valleys. It it like a 20 mile hike. You end up at the border between TN and NC with the Appalachian trail head right there..

We have had so many marvelous experiences on this incredible road, from wolf, bear and elk sightings, sparkling winter ice, beautiful silent snowfalls, riverside picnics and quiet hikes, even rescuing stranded motorists on dark deserted evenings. Magical motoring and a dynamic drive, though summer and leaf season traffic can be slow going. Lots of stopping points along the way and items of interest including hiking trails, visitors centers, waterfalls, overlooks galore, picnic and camping areas, a preserved old mill and historic spots.

This is a very steep and winding road to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the National Park. Take your time driving to the top and look around.

Must drive thru the park on Newfound. Absolutely spectacular and worth the time. Allow plenty of time especially during the busy season and look for the beautiful photo ops along the way.

Beautiful drive. Very scenic. Lots to see. Great vistas. Good foliage. Many turnoffs. Quite insightfully, Cherry Wonderdog also considers the Newfound Gap Road an invaluable means to an end (e.g., a drive to reach one of the memorable hiking trails in the park) rather than merely an end to itself.

We were on a long road trip intentionally including scenic drives like this along the way. A great choice. By the way, the "Sugarlands" comes from sugar maples - no sugar cane here!

We tried to drive the road at peak color season it was awful,worse then your worst traffic jam!! If you want to sit in traffic for hours upon hours this is the place for you!

Keep your eyes on the road. Biker was hit the first week in May. Ambulances were flying up the hill. Morton Overlook, on a clear day, gives you great pictures!

This would be an amazing drive if others would follow the rules of the road. If you are to scared to drive the speed limit, pull off at one of the many locations to do so, so others can go past you that want to do the speed limit. Ever wondered why they have so many pull off locations without a scenic view? That is why. Signs entering the drive specifically state slower drivers pull off so others may pass. The speed limits posted are safe, otherwise they would be made slower. Drive the posted speed limit so you don’t cause traffic jams. If the road scares you then drive an alternate route. This road is far better than the Tail of the Dragon. Give that one a shot if you like twists and turns (318 over 11 miles).

This was a beautiful experience. The road to Newfound Gap has wonderful pull offs & amazing views. The Gap itself is amazing as well. Too bad when we were there it was 40 degrees & breezy. We were in the area on a week that rained all but one day so it was still a little cold & damp. We didn't spend a lot of time here but it was definitely worth the trip & hopefully we can go back when the weather is more cooperative. Just a note - even if it is warm in town, the temperature at Newfound Gap is a good 20 degrees cooler, so be prepared. Make sure you take the token picture of the Tennessee/North Carolina state line. Also, the restrooms here are not bad considering you are at the top of the mountain. They are "flush" toilets but there is no running water to wash hands, just hand sanitizer, so if that bothers you, make sure you take something with you to be able to wash your hands properly.

Have stopped here several times. Great views of the Smoky Mountains, as long as the weather cooperates.

Newfound Gap Road is a lovely road. Going through the Smokies, it can be intimidating with elevation changes, lots of turns, and plenty of scary moments near cliffs. Still, if the weather's nice, the scenic lookouts every now and then make for GREAT photo-ops! I wouldn't recommend going when it's foggy or raining, seeing it could very well scare the daylights out of you with all the turns and driving near treacherous drops. There's a GOOD reason it's closed during the Winter!

My Most favorite time of the year in The Great Smoky Mountains. The scenery is absolutely Beautiful. The drive from the entrance at Visit Center, starting from Gatlinburg into the Great Smoky Mountains to Visit Center in Cherokee in North Carolina is 30 miles long. With top speed up to 35 mph.

Newfound Gap Road, aka hwy 441, is a beautiful winding drive. It should take about an hour to drive the approximately 35 miles between Cherokee NC and Gatlinburg TN. They currently are working on a paving project however, which caused almost an hour delay this week for us. However, the temperature was comfortable and we enjoyed the beautiful scenery while we waited. The road through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is narrow and winding so go slowly and pay attention. If you have a convertible this is what your car is yearning for! Be safe and have fun!

We were there in October during fall colors season. The drive is long but worth it. The drive ends in a huge parking lot overlooking the mountains and valleys and it is a wonderful place to view fall colors. During weekends in fall, this place could be very crowded and parking becomes tough.

This is always a great drive when you take the time to enjoy it. Beautiful forest with plenty of places to stop and relax.

We fell in love with Newfound Gap Road. So much that we spent two days enjoying the views, playing near the creek, catching salamanders along the water, breathing the clean air, and taking in all that the smoky mountains offered. A must drive!!

A beautiful area winding through the Smokies! Full of twists and turns and water and so much green space. Take the time & enjoy this area!

We drove from Gatlinburg to Cherokee and back this summer via Newfound Gap Rd through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is a beautiful scenic drive. On the way over from Gatlinburg we stopped at Mingus Mill. On the way back from Cherokee, we stopped at a few of the pull-offs closer to Gatlinburg as the sun was beginning to set & we were getting some great views. I would say that you can easily drive from one town to the next in just over an hour drive time IF you don't make any stops. However, IF you plan to stop at pull-offs, overlooks, trails OR attractions such as Mingus Mill or the Mountain Farm Museum, you want to allow extra time. Along the way, you will pas through tunnels, go around turns, see some roadside brooks and possibly encounter wildlife. We saw some deer and turkeys near the Mountain Farm Museum just before dusk.

Overall, a great scenic drive. I would recommend it during good, sunny weather. I have hit dense fog on this road before and it was NOT fun. I can't imagine snow or ice covered would be much fun either. I would plan my trip to pass through just around sunset, as the views are amazing as the sun goes down over the Smokies.

Stops on 441:
GSMNP Sign Gatlinburg
Sugarlands Riding Stables
Sugarlands Visitor Center
Cataract Falls
Chimneys Picnic Area
Chimney Tops
Alum Cave
Newfound Gap
Clingman's Dome (side road)
Mingus Mill
Smokemont Riding Stable
Mountain Farm Museum
Ocunaluftee Visitors Center
GSMNP sign Cherokee

I have been going to the Smoky Mountains since I was a kid and "driving over the mountain" to Cherokee was what we did every visit. There is a high probability that you will see wildlife. The numerous pull-offs are excellent. Following the river and seeing the water cascading down the rocks is beautiful. If you are doing one thing in the park, this should be it. Make some time for a few stops to at least walk into the woods a little bit. It's so peaceful.

The road was beautiful and the tree cover just feels so comforting. Loved this drive. Nice, scenic stops. Would recommend this.

Great views, great drive with family. Don't forget to get gas before making the drive (there are no gas stations, for that matter, no restaurants in the park) and don't forget to make the stop where Tennessee meets North Carolina for that photo.

This road leads up to Clingmans Dome. There's a place to stop where you are on the North Carolina & Tennessee border, a photo opportunity. The Appalachian trail also is along here. Great views and plenty of trails to choose from.

We took a cool spring drive through this path. What a beautiful view at the top!. We had a picnic lunch at the picnic area near the mountain stream. What a gorgeous spot! Take your camera! There are pull-over spots everywhere.

Newfound Gap Road is a scenic roadway that travels between the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, up and over the mountains and into Cherokee, North Carolina. The 31-mile stretch of mountain road is paved road that travels through the park’s center. I traveled on it in November and enjoyed the beautiful fall leaves. There are many hiking and picnic spots along the way, the the highest point in the Smokies and on the entire Appalachian Trail is a drive-up (Clingman’s Dome) located just off this road.

While in the area for Mother's Day we decided we wanted to drive up to Clingman's Dome, and this road is the way you go to get there. What an amazing scenic drive!! Wow!! It was such a wonderful, pretty, sunshiny day! But as you get closer to the top because of the elevation we noticed it started getting cold. Glad we had brought long sleeve tops along with us because they came in use! We did stop at some of the stops along the way. We did walk to the steep inclined paved walkway up to Clingman's Dome, that was the best view ever! You could see where some of the damage was done by the fires that were in Gatlinburg not too long ago but still the whole area was just breath taking! Driving on this Road is a MUST when in the area!

I love nice, quaint drives like this one. The overgrowth of the trees and the winding path make for a peaceful day!

This is a windy road and the views are breathtaking. Remember your camera and take your time. Keep a sharp eye out for stopped cars and wildlife. There many hairpin turns. This is a great road to take if you are on a motorcycle

If you're just doing a quick stay in the area and aren't going all the way to the Blue ridge parkway, this is a small look at what you're gonna miss if you just stay in town.

This is the main drive into the Smokies. Lots of nice turnouts to take in the views. Several hiking trails and quiet walkways along the drop. Worth making stops along the way to explore. The higher you go, the better the views.

My wife and I recently drove Newfound Gap road (US 441) from Cherokee to Gatlinburg. This 34 mile trip is one of the most scenic drives in America. It is the lowest drivable pass in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The road winds through the mountainous landscape featuring fragrant woodlands that include evergreen spruce, hardwoods and pine-oak while gaining over 3000 feet in elevation. Along the way there are scenic creeks & streams as well as multiple pull offs with spectacular views (picture taking paradise). You may spot wildlife along the way such as Black Bears or Wild Turkeys. We enjoyed seeing the Elk in the fields along side the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Hiking opportunities galore including a section of the Appalachian Trail that crosses the road at Newfound Gap elevation 5046 feet and the very popular Alum Cave trail. Be prepared for the temperature change. It can vary as much as 10-12 degrees from the lowlands to Newfound Gap. We visited during the fall when the leaves were changing colors. It was fantastic. Be aware that the Great Smokey Mountains National Park is the most visited National park in the United States with over 12 million people annually and the traffic reflects that. Check your gas gauge before you enter the park. Overall we had an excellent experience. A “must do” when you visit the area.

Nice scenic highway. We enjoyed going into North Carolina, after stopping at the state line marker overlook.

Going up and over the mountain is an amazing ride. Its beautiful. There are places to pull over and get out and just look at the amazing views. And going in October was perfect. The trees were all colors the weather was perfect and just all out a great ride.

We have spent many vacations in the Smoky Mountains and love to travel through the Gap. It is a beautiful drive that we make multiple times during each trip. We usually bring a picnic lunch and find a picnic area along the way to have lunch and enjoy the creek.

This is the broader for Tennessee and North Carolina at the top of the mountain! It is a curvy ride, but the views are worth it!

Newfound Gap Road (US Highway 441) is one of the most beautiful drives I have ever taken. However much time you have to view the mountains, this is the best way. There are numerous pullouts to enjoy the view and points of access to most of the trails in the park. My favorite view point was Newfound Gap. My wife and I spent about 30 to 40 minutes taking in the sights and you can access the Appalachian Trail from this destination.

You will ultimately get behind folks who want to drive 10 miles per hour. They never want to pull over (in the provided pullouts) to let the line of cars behind them by. They just ignore all the signs directing them to do that. So, prepare for a slow long drive.

Beautiful drive with plenty of pull offs to stop and enjoy the view, we also seen several waterfalls that we were able to pull over and look at, we didn't see any bears or other wildlife but the views were worth it.

Before you go, gas up your fuel tank. The hardest decision you will make is which pull-offs to pause at so you can soak in the views. Halfway between Gatlinburg and Cherokee is Newfound Gap, where you can learn about the origins of the Smoky Mountains National Park as well as hike part of the Appalachian Trail.

Left early on Monday morning to avoid at least one direction over the mountain before the crews started work on the road. The early morning (6:45 AM) drive provided amazing views with blue hues on the mountains with orange streaks from the sun. I even saw a bear on Newfound Gap Road. My sisters and I were heading toward Cherokee. We saw elk near Oconaluftee. It was a great drive. On our return, we did have a delay of at least 15 minutes shortly after passing Newfound Gap Overlook.

When we arrived it was already full to view the eclipse but about a quarter mile along we found a great spot with a fantastic view. The eclipse was fabulous and when it finished we headed back up to newfound gap for the facilities and to take the obligatory snaps of being in two states at the same time. A beautiful part of the world no doubt. Had no more time to explore much further but it was an extraordinary day to visit.

We visited Sunday morning through early afternoon; the scenic views get better and better the closer you get to the top; don't forget to stop at the pull-offs, there are some great photo ops along the way, especially now when the wildflowers are blooming

Absolutely stunning views, nice leisurely drive - scenic and a real pleasure... You can take it at your own pace and enjoy it

Newfound Gap Road is a beautiful drive into the Smoky Mountains national park. There are many pull off areas on the side of the road where picturesque views can be enjoyed. We even saw bear cubs twice while driving this magnificent route. You can straddle the state lines of Tennessee and North Carolina from the parking area of Newfound Gap and stroll quiet paths to stretch your legs. There is a rustic bathroom facility, but be prepared at any of the restrooms... they may be out of toilet paper!

Views are pretty. Would be nice if they marked which side was TN and which side was NC. Can take a walk on Appalachian trail at this spot. Very crowded. Hard to find parking.

This is the one major road which connects one side of the park to the other, and to see almost anything in the park, you have to spend at least a little bit of time on it. We drove it all the way from Gatlinburg (Sugarlands entrance) to the Newfound Gap overlook. At the time we drove, 1 PM on a Thursday, the traffic itself wasn't too heavy, but road work was underway, so we had wait while a flagman directed single-lane traffic. This was true both coming and going for us.

The road itself was well-maintained (as evident with the roadwork we saw), and you're rewarded with a scenic drive up an impressive mountain range. There are numerous overlooks and pullouts along the way, as well as trailheads and picnic areas.

On our honeymoon, we decided to head to Clingman's Dome, Highest point in the Smoky Mountains. Along the way, we stopped at Newdfound Gap. Here, there is a restroom and a trail head for the Appalachian Trail. Don't freak out about driving up a 2 lane mountain road that twists and turns as you make your way to 4,700', IT IS WORTH THE EFFORT!!

Be sure you have good brakes, a full tank of fuel, warm clothes, and some snacks and beverages to last a few hours. Check with the welcome centers for more information and adhere to the rules of the park. If you decide to goto Clingman's Dome, be advised that the observation platform is a 1/2 mile walk up a steep paved trail. We didn't attempt the hike due to poor visibility and 32*f temperatures.

This is a must on your trip to the Smoky Mountains. Absolutely awesome views and very picturesque scenery. Slow down and enjoy the ride.

We drove up the mountain to a beautiful overlook! There are restrooms there too. It is a totally different experience than cades cove, which I love!

Gorgeous drive with many pull outs to stop and take photos. This is the main road through the park. It is a well-maintained road and a wonderful drive. During the busy parts of the tourism season it can be very slow going, so bring a bit of patience to the park.

Been coming to the Great smokey mountains for the last15 years. A great road to drive on and many things to see. Best time to come is early morning. Before it gets busy. Keep in mind if you see a bear or something take your look take your picture and move on so others behind you can do the same. And not to hold up to much traffic.

Beautiful drive with plenty of places to stop for picnic or to enjoy the views. Should be spectacular in a few weeks for leaf viewing. There are many trailheads along the way. Also a few nature trails with educational signage along the trail. Most of trails are long but take the time to get out, walk for awhile and move on the next stop.

This is the main route that traverses Great Smoky Mountain National Park and offers spectacular views along the way. Many places to pull off but the best views are found at Newfound Gap, Luftee Overlook, and Morton’s Overlook. Beware that there was construction when I visited last month with single lane traffic at 1 point making for some long delays if arriving during the busiest times of the day

We were driving from NC to TN for the day. This was by far the most beautiful drive we took on our road trip. It doesn’t feel long at all because the scenery is breathtaking. We stopped at the rest area to take pics and use the restrooms. We loved driving all of the tunnels and all of the opportunities there were to stop and get out for pictures.

I love national parks and I love when National Parks have a main road to travel on. This is the Smokey's main road. It is a nice drive that does go up and down in elevation but is not terribly curvey. It also has great shoulders so you do not feel like you are going to fall off the edge. There are many great stops with fantastic views and also has "quit walkarounds"-a not busy path you can take through the mountain. Road can become very busy. Drive slow and enjoy the views. One very popular stop is at the TN/NC border.

This was really cool to be standing in two states at once, this is where NC& TN meet, your at an elevation of bout 5000 feet, it's definitely colder here than any other point on the map, we went to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge who were in the mid 80's, and a quick drive back over the mountains to New Gap, it was a chilly 57 degrees, the Appalachian Trail crosses over New Found Gap Road and straddles the state lines of both states through the park , the kids liked climbing the ROCKEFELLER MONUMENT , it's a massive stone structure with lots of history, lots of parking and bathrooms down the right side of the Memorial, however note no lights, they go by sunlight only thru the top, and hand sanitizer pumps only to wash hands, no running water, they do have this posted for travelers, while many explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this area is a sure stop, extraordinary views of the mountains on both sides of the road

Our whole purpose of this vacation to North Carolina was to see the Smoky Mountain National Park. We had already visited Shanendoah National Park a couple years ago and we interested to see how they compare.

We drove over from Maggie Valley which was where were staying, on route 19. It took us from Maggie Valley to the town of Cherokee at one end of the Newfound Gap Road. Route 19 was full of twists and blind curves on at times a very narrow road. Motorcyclists love this road but it gave me many anxious moments. We later learned to take the Blue Ridge Parkway from Cherokee back to Maggie Valley. It was straighter and not so full of blind curves.

As we drove from Cherokee the road was very good. Traffic was light and moved quickly along. We noted that unlike Shanendoah National Park we were very much in the woods for most of the drive. There were several turn off points to view the mountains but many on the way north were on the opposite side of the road. So we elected to view them on our return trip south. When we arrived at the top Newfound Gap traffic came to a halt with travelers looking for parking spots. Turn over in the parking lot was rapid and we found a spot within a few minutes.

The view from the Newfound Gap was spectacular. You just wanted to stay there and take in the spectacle of all these peaks and valleys.

Getting back in the car for the drive onto Gatlinburg I noted that the traffic was heavier on the "other side". This proved to be the case on the return trip to Cherokee. Again the trip onto Gatlinburg was a lot of driving in the forest. I mention this because when we drove on the Skyline Drive through Shanendoah National Park one drives on the top of the mountain. You get views on both sides of the road. In the Smoky Mountain NP your driving in the woods most of the time with an occasional turn off. On our return trip we did stop at the turn off which were now on the correct side of the road for us.

One point of amusement during our drive was the frequent tunnels cut through the mountains that we travelled through. All total the road was about 31 miles long. Speeds were pretty much at 35 mph the whole time. Traffic is heavy from Newfound Gap to Gatlinburg. Very light traffic from Newfound Gap to Cherokee.

We enjoyed this trip very much. We asked ourselves on the way home if we would ever visit The Smoky Mountain National Park again....I'm afraid the answer was No! Once was enough sorry to say.

Thought it would be scary but it wasn't. We drove too much that day including the crazy "Dragon's Tail" by mistake. Was afraid to drive in the mountains at night but this road was fine.

Views are great! Beautiful drive. Definitely worth it and continue to clingmans dome it's also worth the drive/hike

What a beautiful gorgeous drive! I highly recommend it. Take your time & travel slow ( speed limit is only 35MPH) & stop at the numerous pull-offs for some dynamite views.

It's only about 30 miles between the 2 visitor centers but this can take hours with numerous stops & traffic.

The road is very crowded so be prepared to drive at less than the speed limit.

2 weeks ago the leaves were mostly all down in the park after the bad thunderstorm & flash flooding on November 7 so even though we enjoyed the views, it's not as good with all the leaves down. However, it's still enjoyable and worth the drive.

This would not be a good road in the dark with all the numerous turns so be careful to watch your time when driving at this time of the year with short days.

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Being from the west, we miss all the deciduous trees turning green in the spring..such a beautiful drive, winding road with pull outs to enjoy all the creeks and waterfalls, etc...worth it--we spent hours wandering along this road.

Newfound Gap Road is a name of the road in the National park and it is also known as Rt. 441 crossing the state lines of Tennessee and North Carolina. This road has so many look out points (including the Newfound Gap) on top of the mountain. It is only a little over 13 miles but because of the curves the turns and the stops it will take travelers over an hour from the Sugarland Visitor Center to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center an on to the Cherokee Nation and another hour to Asheville via Rt-19, You will see streams, creaks, and different types of forest along the way. And, at Oconaluftee, you get a treat to visit the Mountain Farm Museum and the Milgus Mill.

Went before noon and it was not nearly as crowded as I’ve seen it in the past. There was patches of snow scattered around and they were cool for a few snowballs for the kids.

A great way to see the mountains by vehicle. Several pull off areas for views of the mountains. Picnic areas along the route with trails in all directions.

Great palce to have a picnic. We were able to walk to a creek that ran right thru the area and take numerous pictures.

We went here as a family ( 16 of us). The drive to the top never gets old( our 3rd time here). Take time to see anything and everything. The fall colors are always spectacular. The streams are beautiful. Take time to soak it all in. Follow the road into north Carolina too. It's so worth it all!!

We spent a whole day winding our way up this scenic drive. There are many trails and overlooks to take advantage of, it’s simply stunning at every turn. Being chilly when we started we saw the temps drop as we ascended. At the top it was 23 degrees with a breeze! Icicles all along the road hanging off the rocks and little streams bubbling everywhere.

Scenic drive over Smoky Mountains many places to pullover and enjoy the views. Can get crowded and backed up so slowdown and enjoy.

Would return

The BEST views! Definitely worth the trip. If you're trying to decide between Newfound Gap or Cades Cove, choose Newfound Gap.

This road is a great drive! It has lots of pull over places which are worth stopping to have a look at. We enjoyed this more than the Roaring fork motor trail!

This road is the primary road through the smokies. Not sure why it has its own page, but it does. It has a number of pull offs and is free to access.

Nothing but one beautiful view after another. If you are in Gatlinburg you MUST take this drive. many spots to take photos along the way

You can't miss this drive when visiting the Smokies, it's the main road through the park! Smooth road with scenic views around every corner and many pullouts. Well worth taking your time to drive.

As a person who is afraid of heights, and gets motion sick, I was afraid this road would be like the Going to the Sun road in Glacier NP. Not so! This is a well marked, wide, beautiful road with plentiful pull outs so you can appreciate the beauty. The road itself was not challenging to drive. We found it accessible and beautiful. Worth spending a day exploring this road and the environs.

Omg the views! So beautiful and relaxing. Just lowers your blood pressure. Therapeutic for those with chronic illnesses,etc. Tree colors galore. This on the Tennessee/NC state line. The 14 state Appalachian trial that begins in Georgia, cross through this section. Information near restrooms. Their bathrooms facilities was not really clean. No sink, Hand sanitizer provided.

Nice drive, we enjoyed stopping by and enjoying the creeks and being around trees was very relaxing.

Nice drive in the mountains and seeing the type of trees change with the Altitude. Make sure you read the Plaques at the top and get your camera ready. By the way there's bathrooms there as well.

What a beautiful drive this was! We saw so many scenic vistas and streams and nature that was untouched and stunning. A relaxing winding way to see the highlights of the Smokey's...enjoy! There's many places to turn off for a picnic or a hike. Definitely stop at the visitors center for a map to utilize your time best.

This is a beautiful drive. Lots of historical sites to stop and see along the way. These are easier walks than most for those looking for options. My elderly parents were able to do several of the stops. Not all, but several. So most may find this a doable option I would think.

This is a nice scenic road that takes you for Tennessee Into North Carolina. a lot of history has gone through her. Just a peaceful drive.

If you drive through the entirety of the park, you'll be driving on this road at some point. It can be heavily trafficked in the summer so keep that in mind. There's a nice viewpoint along the NC/TN border where most people park and walk around.

A lot of aggressive driving takes place here. According to the information shared at one of the visitor’s centers, one of the biggest killers of people and wildlife are those who are killed on these interior roads. Unfortunately, speeding has a role to play. Some motorists illegally pass you when you are doing the right thing and obeying the speed limit. Use the turnouts, as needed. Pay attention to the various types of vehicles that are used on this road. The Polaris sits very low. Motorcycles abound. There are car club enthusiasts, RVers, cyclists, pedestrians, and joggers. Some people drive pick-up trucks and will give you the black cloud diesel treatment. Look for the trucks that have the after-market stacks set up in their pick-up beds.
Maintain a safe distance between vehicles. Motorists are notorious for slamming on their brakes when bears are spotted. Jammed up roads occur when people stop traffic altogether and leave their vehicles to get closer to the bears. You will not be able to pass the,. Usually, it takes the service of a ranger to arrive and move the traffic along.
Many of the roads have gates. These gates are promptly closed during emergencies. The alerts are not always immediately updated on the web page or Twitter. These gates are closed for hours. A powerful rain storm causes flash flooding and trees to topple onto vehicles. Traffic will become completely gridlocked. The roads leading to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are already taxed. Put on top of the stress the emergencies centering on storms, and WOW. You may be sitting in the same spot for a very long time.
If you are on a motorcycle, be prepared for ALL types of weather. I know that the seasoned motorcyclists know what to do. We did notice some who were caught unprepared for the quickly changing weather.
There is NO cellular signal in this National Park. I repeat, there is NO CELLULAR SERVICE in the park. The buses do not go to ALL of the visitor’s centers. If you use the services of Uber to get you there, how are you going to contact Uber for that return trip? Plan ahead.
Bathrooms are few-and-far-between. Enough said.
Have fun.

Beautiful twisty road off the Blue Ridge Parkway with amazing scenic views. We were driving from Asheville on the Blue Ridge Pkwy to the Smokey Mountains - this was the perfect way to do that and to see amazing scenery on the way.

Was returning from Townsend, TN yesterday and decided to take a different route home than how we previously arrived into Townsend four days earlier. We drove part of the way home on the Newfound Gap Road. How stunning !! It was a crisp bright sunny fall day and the views from the many vistas just kept getting prettier and prettier. This road has a lot of places to stop and take pictures or just stop and enjoy the views. Mother nature at her very very best.

This is a pull off that is truly worth stopping to check it out. There is a lot of parking and the great views from both sides of the mountain. Now this sounds crazy but make sure you visit the restroom. The outside of the building is straight out of the early 1900s. The inside is modern though.

Newfound Gap was a great stop.
We Stopped here on the parkway while driving up to Clingmans Dome.
Very beautiful views.

We drove the newfound Gap road from clingmans dome to Gatlinburg. The scenery was amazing I'm glad we decided to take this way. We stopped at many of the overlooks to take pictures of the area. If you're in the area do yourself a favor and take this drive.

We got up early and drove from Gatlinburg to the Gap point. It took about 45 minutes to drive. We were there 30 min. before sunrise. It was a bit of a tough drive for me since it’s my first time doing the driving. It wasn’t bad just make sure to use your bright lights and low gear. The tough part was finding drive offs to let the morning commuters pass. There were beautiful views at the top off of both sides of this road. I really wish we would have taken the 1.7 mile hike in the Appalachian Mountains. I think there was a 2.7 one there too. It was well worth waking up at 4:30.

The Ride through the mountains was peaceful and the views cannot be beat anywhere plenty of places to stop and photograph and just take it all In

The drive was spectacular with lush green trees in summer and beautiful colors in spring. Driving in the Great Smoky Mountains is always amazing as it always gives memorable experience.

Stopped on our way thru national park late afternoon. Large parking lot with large expansive views from the parking lot

Easy trip to the center of the Smoky Mnts. It is an easy drive and there are a lot of spots to get some good photos.

December 14, 2023 the road had been closed overnight but opened up just as I was making my way from Gatlinburg to Atlanta. Road was clear and easy to drive for this So.Cal guy not accustom to driving in snow. So beautiful that I stopped at almost every lookout point.

Visited over the New Years weekend and we were fortunate enough to see a little snow! The viewing platform has access to a nice restroom facility and is the entrance to multiple trail heads including the one to Charlie's bunion , a must see in the park!

The Great Smokey Mountain National Park is the most visited National Park. I think that might be because it is in the populated Eastern part of the country, easily accessible from lots of places and...free! Newfound Gap Road is US 441. We took it from the south to the north, finishing up in Gatlinburg. It was a beautiful ride, and there are lots of pull-outs with spectacular views. Being winter it was not crowded at all. Of course there wasn't much going on either. I would definitely like to revisit and explore some of the trails. It is a beautiful park, and really didn't show the wear of having millions of visitors a year (10,099,276 visitors in 2014 according to the NPS.)

A national park! The drive is beautiful! Go to the top for either the newfound gap lookout parking lot or clingmans dome! The lookout has access to the Appalachian trail!!! We hiked 2 miles to the north of the trail! Great vistas and for gosh sakes u are on the most famous trail in the world!!!!!!! Clingmans dome has amazing panoramic views! Have to do this when here no excuses.

It just breaks my heart to see so many bare areas where the trees have died from the fire. After 2 1/2 years, it is still bare.

Beautiful views and plenty of places to pull over and enjoy them! This is not a nail- biting mountain drive.

This 33 mi/53 km road more or less connects Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC through the Great Smoky Mountains NP. It is the only convenient way to go between these cities. The alternative is the interstate highway I-40 on the east side of the park, which is a much longer detour.

We did this scenic drive on a Sunday afternoon in late April as well as a Tuesday morning in early May. The road was in very good condition - no snow and not too busy. There are many pull-offs and viewpoints along the road. Drivers were mindful and considerate and used these pull-offs. Damage from the November fire was visible from some of the overlooks on the Tennessee side. Although the road was windy, it was not too narrow. We've done scarier drives in Tenerife.

Newfound Gap Road takes you across the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, through beautiful wooded scenery. There are plenty of places to pull over to take in the view from a mountaintop or take a short walk into the woods.

Highlights along the way include Mingus Mill and a detour to Clingman's Dome. Also liked stopping at the North Carolina/Tennessee border.

We took the entire day to drive from Cherokee, NC to Gatlinburg, TN with all the stops along Newfound Gap Road.

We enjoyed all the scenery on this relaxing drive from Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC. Stop and stretch your legs where the two state borders meet. Look for the AP trail marker.

We traveled to the Great Smoky Mountains early Oct 2018. Newfound Gap Road was the second journey we took outside of Gatlinburg. It's curvy and takes you up into the mountains where you can meet up with the Appalachian Trail or take a Chimney Tops trail, which we did. The hike was moderate to strenuous but fun. We also went to Clingman's Dome from Newfound Gap Road.

Drive through this road last week, there are lot of views we can enjoy. For fall colors best time is Oct 2nd week to last week. Lot of picnic areas and trails you can enjoy. Must place to visit if you are around.

If you do not want to hike, this route, along with 411 N out of Pigeon Forge are beautiful. The car nature trail going to Grotto Falls is beautiful, but can get crowded

We live in the area and during a recent drive through the park we encountered quite a few 'animal traffic jams'. The bears are just awakening and easy to see. Some photos enclosed. These are right by the road, not hiking. Just STAY IN YOUR CAR when this close.

This may be our new favorite national park! The drive has new beauty around every corner with waterfalls, mountains, streams, etc. Spring is a great time to visit with all the greenery.

Charge up the camera battery and be prepared to stop a lot! This is the only complete north/south thru road bisecting GSMNP from Gatlinburg to Cherokee, NC. Take the time to savor the views, walk to Clingmans Dome and stroll thru the "Mountain Home Museum".

There are so many great drives in GSMNP; however, this was one of my favorites. This is the road that will take you from the Oconaluftee VC in the valley to the top of the mountain at the gap. While it was crowded, I never felt the road was busy. It may be the scenery takes your mind away. There is a great overlook pull off just before the top that offers great mountain views. These were the best we saw as the mountains at the top lived up to the Smoky name limiting visibility. Still this road offers great views. Additionally, while at the top taking pictures, I was totally unaware of a black bear crossing the road. Only a car skidding took my attention away from the view to see a bear climbing over the guardrail.

What a great drive. You meander through the park with spectacular vistas, lush vegetation, rush in rivers, tunnels....it goes on and on. Breathtaking even if you've driven it dozens of times. Do not miss!

We stayed in Pigeon Forge the 3rd week of October.. We made 2 day trips and some hikes in the Great Smokies.. One of our drives was to Newfound Gap. The ride was pretty although given the popularity of Newfound Gap and time of year it was more crowded than I would have liked. Nonetheless we enjoyed the drive and views from the Gap. If memory serves me correct this is where the North Carolina-Tennessee border sign is.. I encourage visitors to take the drive..You’ll enjoy it.

Get into the Park early, around 9 AM and you should be able to stop for pictures in almost anyplace you want. Get into the Park after that and you will be disappointed because you have no place to stop.

In May traffic was not so heavy to be an issue. Rotodendron were not yet blooming on the 10 th but the views were spectacular. Numerous turn-outs for viewing. Fall would be breathtaking but busy.

This drive up into the Smokies is a must do. All individuals can enjoy the views whether from the vehicle or at pull offs along the route. Stop at the North Carolina, Tennessee state line and hike a short part of the Appalachian trail.

This is a beautiful drive through the Smokies. It is the primary road in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Be sure to stop at Newfound Gap overlook and walk up on the stone overlook. I am almost 70 years old and have many happy memories from going to the Smokies and stopping at the Newfound Gap. Most of the fall foliage was gone when we were there in November. It is best to go in mid-October to see pretty fall foliage at this elevation.

This is a wonderful drive to capture some unforgettable scenery and take photos. I highly receommend this drive to any park visitors. Many trails to stop and hike as well. We travelled this raod on the way to Bryson City, NC

This scenic drive is the perfect way to see the Smoky Mountains. There are lots of great overlooks to stop at and the Newfound Gap Overlook is awesome as well. It’s definitely a must-do!

My husband and I drove this road through the Smokies on our way to Pigeon Forge. We had driven it before but it had been about 8 years. It was a lovely summer day. Mostly hot but the temps dropped to 71 deg. at one point. Newfound Gap Lookout has the largest parking area on this drive with lovely views. We didn't venture off the road or take any hikes but enjoyed the drive.

Wonderful drive, lots of pull offs for viewing. I wish we had thought to bring our binoculars. I highly recommend any drive through the park!

What a spectacular and truly a most scenic, truly on oof the most scenic drives we have ever taken. We loved the Smoky Mountains in all their beautiful majesty. They are so majestic and the area has wildlife in abundance. So many scenic overlooks and places to take photos with the Great Smoky Mountains behind you in all of their wondrous glory! How can you not want to take all of that beauty in? Definitely enjoy the drive to Newfound Gap, stop along the way and enjoy the ride! Make sure you use restrooms and take some snacks, better yet pack a cooler. We were on this road twice once on a Pink Jeep Tour and once with our friends in our own vehicle. Well worth the scenic drive both times!

This is a worth while ride through the great smokey mountains. the road is outstanding shpe to drive at ease.

This road thru the Smokies has amazing views. We always take our time and breathe in the mountain air. We even went back at night to look at the stars without all of the city lights.

This is one of the most funniest rides going up through the mountains. We came this way on our way to Pigeon Forge. Even though it is windy and long the scenic views are worth it.

A wee bit past fall foliage peak at this altitude but still a beautiful drive. You’ll be able to see the foliage changes at different elevations from some of the overlooks.

This is a lovely drive from Gatlinburg in The Smoky Mountains into North Carolina. The route has plenty of turnouts where you'll get spectacular views of the Mountains with almost layers of colours as you look further towards the horizon. You'll also find access to a section of the Appalachian Trail that you can hike. Very relaxing.